Resource Library

COVID-19 is a new infection that can be more serious for some older people. These resources explain how you can see your loved ones while keeping yourself and others safe from COVID-19, and include a poster, how-to guide, website banner, email footer and a social media tile. 

Click on the links to download the resources. 

This advice has been prepared by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s Chief Clinical Advisor Dr Melanie Wroth, to support home services delivering aged care in Victoria in preparing for and responding to a COVID-19 outbreak.

The advice is informed by the Commission’s national involvement in monitoring and supporting providers to identify and mitigate pandemic-related risks, including managing continued delivery of services in ways that reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection and transmission, and ensuring appropriate infection control practices are used by home care staff.

RB 2020-11 This Regulatory Bulletin details the information the Commission publishes about aged care service providers' performance in relation to their responsibilities under the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Act 2018 (Commission Act) and the Aged Care Act 1997, or the Commonwealth funding agreement that relates to a service.

Note: This bulletin is an exposure draft and will be reviewed 10 August 2020.

The advice in this resource has been prepared by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s Chief Clinical Advisor Dr Melanie Wroth, to support residential aged care services in Victoria in preparing for and responding to a COVID-19 outbreak. The advice is informed by the Commission’s involvement in monitoring and supporting providers to identify and mitigate pandemic-related risks, including managing an outbreak in their service, and the lessons learned from these experiences.

To support the aged care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission is developing a range of new storyboards that are designed to illustrate key behaviours and priority issues. 

The storyboards will be particularly helpful in supporting people whose English or literacy levels may be a barrier when it comes to accessing content relating to COVID-19 and are relevant to all providers and consumers, their families and representatives across the aged care sector. 

These storyboards deal with the concept of staying safe, and cover the following topics: 

The Commission has produced a glossary of common terms to aid understanding of the aged care services sector. The list is not intended to be exhaustive and is provided as general information only. 

A web page version of the glossary, with hyperlinks to each individual letter for ease of searching can be viewed here.

You, your friends and family have a right to know how your residential aged care service is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have developed some common questions that you can ask your service provider during this time.

The Department of Health, in partnership with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (the Commission), is introducing a service compliance rating system for residential aged care services.

About the Service Compliance Rating

The rating system was developed in consultation with stakeholders, including senior Australians, their caregivers, aged care providers, and a range of peak bodies.

The Industry Code for Visiting Residential Aged Care Homes during COVID-19 (the Code) sets out the aged care industry’s expectations of conduct for aged care providers on how to support residents being able to have visitors while also keeping them safe and protected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To support the aged care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission is developing a range of new storyboards that are designed to illustrate key behaviours and priority issues.

A range of resources related to minimising the use of restraints in aged care. 

States and Territories have established directions giving effect to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee’s recommendation that visitors and staff (including visiting workers) should not be permitted to enter a residential aged care facility, if they have not been vaccinated against influenza (after 1st May 2020).  

Residential aged care facilities may wish to display the attached poster at entrances, to alert anyone entering the facility of these flu vaccination requirements. 

These posters have been developed to supplement the CDNA National Guidelines for the Prevention, Control and Public Health Management of COVID-19 Outbreaks in Residential Care Facilities in Australia. 

The CDNA guidelines include a flow chart for managing COVID-19 in residential facilities. The posters take this flow chart and present it in a way that may be easier for facilities to see what they need to do for their particular circumstances. 

Six steps for safe prescribing antipsychotics and benzodiazepines in residential aged care.

If you’re thinking of prescribing these medicines to manage the behaviours and psychological symptoms of dementia, follow these 6 steps.

This fact sheet provides information on a Direction, which can be issued by the Commission to a provider.

The World Health Organisation has declared the coronavirus is a pandemic.
 
The Department of Health has prepared factsheets, including for aged care staff, residents and families to assist in control of the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID19). It is strongly recommended that you read these factsheets and revisit them every day or two because they will be updated as new information becomes available.

What are psychotropic medications? 

Psychotropic medications are ‘any drug capable of affecting the mind, emotions and behaviour'

The three main classes of psychotropics prescribed are antidepressants, anxiolytic/hypnotics (mostly benzodiazepines to manage anxiety and insomnia) and antipsychotics. Other psychotropic classes include anticonvulsants and stimulants. 

The purpose of this report is to describe the key themes and findings from online surveys of aged care consumers and aged care providers, regarding best practice models for engagement between consumers and providers.

As part of its responsibilities for protecting and enhancing the safety, health, well-being and quality of life of aged care consumers, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has identified and developed a range of best practice strategies and tools for providers of aged care to engage with consumers and their representatives.

To inform this piece of work, we have undertaken a literature review of co-design and consumer engagement.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has identified and developed a range of best practice strategies and tools for providers of aged care to engage with consumers and their representatives.

This resource recognises that placing consumers at the centre of their care is fundamental to quality care outcomes. This means significantly deepening engagement and developing a mutual partnership with consumers in all aspects of the planning, delivery and evaluation of care and services.